Geraldine "Gerrie" Arendt's Obituary
Geraldine “Gerrie” E. Arendt (nee Etzkorn), age 72, and the daughter of the late Dr. Peter Etzkorn and Mildred Etzkorn of Lorain, OH, passed away on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, after suffering a lengthy illness. Gerrie was born on October 3rd, 1951, in Toledo, OH. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic High School, transferring to Lorain Catholic High School, upon their grand opening in 1969. Gerrie was a graduate of the first graduating class of Lorain Catholic High School in 1970.
After High School, Gerrie married and had a son, Joey. Two years later, Gerrie relished being a new mom all over again to her daughter, Amy. Several years after the birth of her daughter, Gerrie followed in her mother’s footsteps and attended the St. Joseph School of Nursing in Lorain, OH, where she became an LPN and continued advancing her career to become a Registered Nurse. Gerrie dedicated her life to her marriage and her children, as well as her career in nursing. Gerrie began her nursing career as a 4th floor MED/SURG nurse at the former St. Joseph Hospital in Lorain, OH, transferring to the Emergency Department at St. Joseph Hospital until its merger with Lorain Community Hospital in 1994. From there, she transferred to the former Lorain Community Hospital (currently Mercy Hospital), where she remained an Emergency Room nurse for countless years. In addition to being an Emergency Room nurse, she was employed with the Lorain Surgery Center, and after 30+ tireless years in nursing, Gerrie retired in 2009 from the Erie Shores Endoscopy Center.
Gerrie always had the patience of a saint. She had a heart of gold and is described by many as supportive and encouraging, always wise and kind. She always sacrificed her needs for the needs of her children and her family. Gerrie will be remembered as a selfless, altruistic mother who always had a smile and words of encouragement, even when times were tough. She had a quiet strength, and loved sharing endless stories of her great times with friends and family. Gerrie upheld the Florence Nightingale Oath for Nurses in her personal and professional life, by solemnly swearing before God to lead a worthy life and to exercise her profession honorably. Gerrie fought the good fight, she finished the race, and she kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)
Gerrie enjoyed living her life to the fullest. She loved traveling abroad, especially to Europe on many occasions. She also loved spending time in her vacation home in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her hobbies included playing golf and spending time with her children, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Gerrie was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Peter Etzkorn, her mother, Mildred Etzkorn, and a brother, Ronald Etzkorn.
She is survived and sorely missed by her children, Joseph P. (Rhonda) Arendt of Amherst, and daughter, Amy E. (Terri) Arendt of Lorain. Grandchildren, Amanda R. (Angelicia) Arendt of Amherst, Alexis K. (Michael) Johnson of Cuyahoga Falls, and Joseph A. (Shannon) Arendt of Lorain, and great-grandchildren, Emersyn J. Johnson, and Lincoln J. Arendt. She also leaves to cherish her nephew, Shawn Etzkorn from California, and a host of family and friends from Michigan, California, and Arizona, as well as her loyal and beloved Boxer, Arizona.
Private, family services will take place on Wednesday, October 25th, 2023, and Thursday, October 26th, 2023. Services entrusted to Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral and Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Rd, Amherst, OH 44001.
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